State News

As if the opioid epidemic wasn’t bad enough, the Drug Enforcement Administration now says that Mexican drug cartels are flooding the Midwest with fake pills. Most often, the counterfeits contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be fatal, even in small amounts. DEA Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith …

U.S. Senator Gary Peters has secured Senate approval of an extra nine million dollars for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Peters worked with Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman to build bipartisan support for the increase… The additional money would push GLRI funding to 310 million dollars. There’s no word as …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive directive designed to enhance relationships between the state and Native American tribes. The directive reaffirms Michigan’s recognition of tribal sovereignty and right of self-governance. It orders each state department and agency to adhere to the principles, and requires training on tribal-state relations for …

It’s now easier for Michigan residents to qualify for public assistance. Effective today, a person may have up to $15,000 in assets to qualify for cash, food and emergency assistance. Previous limits set by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had been $500 in assets for State Emergency …

Construction of a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac that would contain the controversial Line Five pipeline and other utilities can proceed – for now. Judge Michael Kelly of the Michigan Court of Claims ruled yesterday that the law enabling the project is constitutional. The deal with pipeline owner Enbridge …

The State of Michigan is speeding up the process of issuing permits to help Great Lakes property owners fight erosion. Record high water levels and recent strong storms have caused significant shoreline problems. The worst issues are along the Lake Michigan coast, where some dune areas have lost as much …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer will sign legislation this morning that will reclassify 17-year-old offenders as juveniles. “Raise the Age” legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support as it passed the state house and senate. Michigan has been one of just four states that has funneled all 17-year-old offenders into adult court, and adult …

Scores by fourth and eighth graders on a national test were about the same in Michigan this year as they were the last time the test was administered two years ago. Michigan’s standing in relation to other states rose slightly, because the performance by some other states fell. The National …

With discussions continuing across Michigan regarding the introduction of recreational marijuana sales, the state has streamlined processes and reduced fees for those involved with medical marijuana. Marijuana Regulatory Agency Executive Director Andrew Brisbo says the cost of a two-year license will drop from $60.00 to $40.00. A number of other …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has scheduled several meetings of the state Administrative Board, as negotiations to end the state’s budget crisis continue. Whitmer vetoed nearly a billion dollars in line items included in the 2019-2020 budget passed by the Republican-controlled legislature a month ago. She also used the Ad Board to …